Leaf-turner



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

J. B. WILLIAMSON. LEAP TURNER.

Patented em N l Odel I v v -WILLIAMSON. et ,Sheet 2,

LEAF TURNER N0. 509,988. Patented Dec. 5, 1893.

v muc-wloe umlmumnmumm um Hm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. W'ILLIAMSON, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

LEAF-TU RN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,988, dated December 5, 1893. I

Application filed October 22, 1892. $erial No. 449,672. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN B. WILLIAMSON, of Louisville,in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leaf-Turners; and I do herebydeclare the'following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable. others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in' leaf turners, more particularly to be employed for turning the leaves of sheets of music, and it consists in certain novel features of invention and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing the turners attached to the leaves and in position to turn the leaves upon being released from their engaging catches. Fig. is a View showing the leaves all turned over in the opposite direction. Fig. 3 is a V ew showing the clamping plate removed. F g. 4 is a detail, and Fig. 5 is a detached vlew of box K with the outside plate removed.

A represents a rack and B its base. These parts are preferably faced on their rear and lower faces respectively with felt or some other soft material a its function being to prevent the piano or instrument being marred when the turner is placed thereon. All the working parts are connected in some conven- 1ent way with this rack and while such connection may be effected in various ways the approved manner of doing it is as shown and W111 now be described. Blocks 0, O, are placed on the rack, and in or between them the stems b of the turners are supported. D D represent the bodies or mainportions of the turners. They consist of rods preferably made in sections d d hinged together and provided with sliding collars 01 adapted to lock them 1n their extended positions and render them rigid. The object of making these rods in sections is to admit of their being folded to get the device in as small space as possible for transportation or similar purposes. On the outer ends of the turner rods clamps e e are secured. These may be of any form desired, their purpose being to engage and hold the leaves of the music fast between their jaws. The stems b of the turners as previously stated are mounted and adapted to rock in the blocks or between them and in order to make the turners turn the leaves as fast as released or unlocked they are furnished with springs b b which surround their stems and cause the tu rners to assu me the position shown in Fig. 2 when released. Overthe blocks, the clamping plate E is secured. This is devised for holding the music at the bound edge and to this end has a cleat fsecured thereon forming a rigid jaw and a movable plate f which constitutes a movable jaw between which and the rigid jaw the bound edge of the sheet of music is clamped. Jaw or plate f is held yieldingly in place by springs f which extend upward through slots f their function being to return the jaw to its normally open position when the cam pressure is removed. This movable plate or jaw is notched as at f where it straddles a post 9 and cut away as at hand an eccentric button G mounted on the post is adapted to be turned in one direction or the other to clamp or unclamp the movable plate or jaw. Thus it will be seen that the music is secured on the rack or turner in a very simple manner. The bound edge is first clamped between the jaws of the clamping plate and then the leaves are clamped by the clamps on the turners,the last leaf by clamp 4 at the top, the next by clamp 3 at the top, the second by clamp 2 at the bottom and the first by clamp 1.- Of course more turners could be used if desired but I have shown four as this is usually sufficient. The principle however isprecisely the same with any number which may be employed.

Means is-provided for locking the turners as follows: Pivoted spring actuated keys H, H, are located just above the base, this being the mostdesirable point. These are held normally upward by their springs. They are each provided with a slotzand the catches L, M, N, and O, are each provided with stems which project laterally into these slots. The

catches themselves are beveled on their upper outer faces so that the turners upon striking them, in setting the device force them aside, the springs forcing them outward immediately to lock the turners as soon as the IGO latter pass them and the turners are provided with projectionsjj in position to be engaged by these catches. As two of the catches are at the bottom and two at the top two have short stems and two long ones, all being operated from the bottom. The music being placed in position the turners are all pushed over to the right as in Fig. 1, the catches engaging them and then to turn the pages as the musician proceeds, the key first at the right is depressed and then the next until all the pages are turned. To hold the keys back spring actuated pawls 7c are pivoted inside the box or case K. A spring actuated slide rod Q having notches q, q, therein in which the free ends of pawls 7o, 70, project connects these loosely as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and by pushing this rod inward all the dogs are released and the catches are thus thrown into position to engage the turners and lock them. Mechanism may be employed which will reset the remaining keys when the last one is struck thereby doing away with rod Q.

The device is simple, can be made at a small cost, and above all is effectual in the performance of its functions.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth, but,

Having fully described my lllVBIltlOIl,Wl'lLt I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a support, of sectional leaf turners, the sections of which are hinged together, and made to overlap each other, and slide collars, for locking these sections, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a rack, and turners adapted to rock therein, of slide catches, and pivoted keys havingloose connection with the catches and adapted to operate them, substantially as setforth.

3. The combination with clamping mechanism for holding the sheet of music, of turners having clamps on their outer ends for holding the leaves, springs for actuating the turners in one direction, catches for holding these turners, pivoted keys having elongated slots therein for receiving the catches, means for locking the keys, and a slide rod for releasing said keys, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

"JOHN B. WILLIAMSON. Witnesses:

A. C. LEHNMAN,

I. N. VETTER. 

